LIFE WITH THE TROTTERS. 213 



those positions and as they rounded, into the stretch both 

 horses showed a disposition to give it up. I persevered with 

 mine and Doble did likewise with his. At the distance 

 stand they were both staggering like a couple of drunken 

 men. There was a big darky that rubbed Planter who 

 always went around bareheaded. About this time he rushed 

 out on the track like a wild man and shouted out to me, 

 loud enough to be heard all over the grounds: "Reef 

 him, boss! reef him!" Whether it was the darky's en- 

 couragement or not, I never could tell, but I hit old Planter 

 again and he fell under the wire first by about a head. 

 Whenever anybody tells me now that Budd Doble cannot 

 drive a tight race I do not have to take out my book to 

 figure on it, I merely think of the heat when he drove Bay 

 against Planter, and while I might not try to prove to the 

 other man that he is wrong in his argument, it is enough for 

 me to remember that Budd will do to drive for the money, 

 no matter how tight the fit. 



In the spotted gelding Prince, I had another horse which 

 proved the uncertainties of race-horses. This animal was 

 of humble birth and beset with misfortunes besides. A 

 circus company of rather moderate renown was exhibiting 

 through the State of Georgia. Among their teams was a 

 blocky bay mare that proved to be in foal and gave birth to 

 a spotted colt that was totally blind. Thinking that the 

 colt would be nothing but a nuisance, the circus people 

 gave him away to an old lady and gentleman, who in the 

 kindness of their hearts took him home and raised him on 

 a bottle. He grew up one of the most knowing horses that 

 I ever saw. The old man tells me that he could be taught 

 anything that any horse ever learned. When he was about 

 five or six years old he was sold and came into the hands of 

 Mr. G. J. Fuller, a man who at that time was the star 

 trainer of the Southern country, and originally went there 

 from the State of Ohio, where his family were born, were 

 first-class farmers, and always good horsemen. Since that 

 time Fuller has made a reputation as one of the most sue- 



